Guanajuato is consistently described as one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico. Its stunning colonial architecture reflects how important the city was for the Spanish Empire as one of their main silver mining centers. In fact, the steep hills surrounding the city were so full of minerals that for over two centuries, Guanajuato produced well over half of all the silver in the world. Such wealth left the city dotted with exquisite churches and basilicas, whose Baroque style would go on to be the inspiration for many other buildings in Mexico. According to UNESCO some of them are “the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture” in Latin America. On the other hand, that wealth also meant deep inequalities between those who worked in the mines and the patrons, leading to the first battle for Mexican Independence in 1810. The city was so important for the Independence cause that it briefly became capital of the country in 1858. 
Today, Guanajuato is a wonderful town filled with winding alleys, steep staircases, pastel-painted houses, Baroque churches and palaces, and tunnels repurposed as roads. Some of the alleys are so narrow that the houses’ balconies almost touch. The rest of them are filled with mostly colonial buildings, marvelous theaters, cafes, and small plazas and bars, which are oftentimes frequented by the University of Guanajuato students.